Grand unified theories, topological defects, and ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays

Journal Article · Mon Jul 27 04:00:00 EDT 1992 · Physical Review Letters; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.69.567· OSTI ID:7106483

Bhattacharjee, P; Hill, C T; Schramm, D N ^[1]

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1. Astronomy and Astrophysics Center, Enrico Fermi Institute, The University of Chicago, 5640 South Ellis Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60637 (United States) Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, P.O. Box 500, Batavia, Illinois 60510 (United States)

The ultrahigh-energy (UHE) proton and neutrino spectra resulting from collapse or annihilation of topological defects surviving from the grand unification (GUT) era are calculated. Irrespective of the specific process under consideration, the UHE proton spectrum recovers'' at {similar to}1.8{times}10{sup 11} GeV after a {ital partial} Greisen-Zatsepin-Kuz'min cutoff'' at {similar to}5{times}10{sup 10} GeV and continues to a GUT-scale energy with a {ital universal} {ital shape} determined by the physics of hadronic jet fragmentation. The shape of the UHE neutrino spectrum is, however, sensitive also to the cosmological evolution of the defects involved.

• OSTI ID: 7106483
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters; (United States), Journal Name: Physical Review Letters; (United States) Vol. 69:4; ISSN PRLTA; ISSN 0031-9007
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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